HISTORIC DAY FOR FALCONS DESPITE LOSS TO LIONS

Tuesday, April 4, 2017 - 1:36 PM by Chris Pike

WEST Perth might have fallen 11 points short in a hard-fought battle with Subiaco at HBF Arena on Saturday but it was a memorable occasion for the Falcons with the women's team scoring a big win over East Perth.

The West Perth Football Club has brought in the Falcons female football team under its banner in 2017 for the first time and celebrated the start of the WA Women's Football League on Saturday with West Perth playing East Perth prior to the men's league contest.

That saw West Perth defeat East Perth in a dominant performance winning 17.18 (120) to 0.0 (0). It was quite the statement to start the new era for the West Perth Football Club.

Then in the league clash, West Perth found some hot form prior to half-time to take an eight-point lead at the long break.

But a Ben Sokol-inspired Subiaco caught fire in the third term and that set up the eventual 13.9 (87) to 11.10 (76) victory.

Trent Manzone continued to emerge as a star in the midfield for West Perth racking up 35 possessions to go with seven marks and five inside-50 entries.

It took eight minutes for the first goal of the game and that came Subiaco's way thanks to Kitchin. West Perth replied thanks to Shannon before the Lions booted the next two.

Both came to Ryan with Manning taking a spell off the ground and they opened a two-goal advantage.

The Falcons then responded with the next two thanks to Tyson Moulton and Chalmers as the home team drew level but the Lions took a six-point lead into quarter-time after Bailey Matera kicked truly.

Subiaco threatened to blow the game open after the opening two goals of the second term to Clancy Wheeler and Phelan. That saw the Lions' lead grow to 14 points but again the Falcons responded.

West Perth got on a roll with five goals in 11 minutes with Keitel booting two and Strijk, Meadows and Hamilton one a piece to see them lead by eight points at the long break.

West Perth might have had the momentum heading into half-time but Subiaco quickly reclaimed it with five goals inside the first 19 minutes of the third quarter.

It was Sokol who was the star kicking the first four of them before Brad Stevenson got in on the act to make the lead 21 points.

A couple of late goals before three quarter-time from Keitel did keep the Falcons within tough and just nine points behind though.

Sokol's fifth goal again gave Subiaco some breathing room and while West Perth had a sniff late with a goal to captain Jay van Berlo, the Lions held on to win by 11 points.

The weekend's action got underway on Friday night with West Perth's colts winning a thriller 10.11 (71) to 9.12 (66) over Subiaco at HBF Arena.

Nathan Murray kicked three goals from 17 possessions for the Falcons with Kurt Monaghan and Oscar Allen also booting two goals apiece. Allen also had 14 disposals, eight marks and 15 hit outs.

Connor West had a big performance for West Perth with 33 possessions and six tackles while Dylan Yem finished with 25 disposals and seven tackles, Alec Johnson 20 touches and Lachlan Sherriffs 18.

Then following the league clash on Saturday night it was onto the reserves with West Perth beating Subiaco 13.13 (91) to 11.9 (75) at HBF Arena.

Shane Bonney had his best game in Falcons colours with 22 possessions, six marks and three goals while Rudy Riddoch played his first match for West Perth from Swan Districts and had 21 disposals, seven marks and two goals.

Brayden Antonio also had two goals from 19 possessions while Conal Lynch racked up 25 touches, Mitch Peirce 23 and Michael Ashfield 12 to go with 22 hit outs after Chris Keunen's day was ended early with a nasty finger injury.

Following two home games, West Perth takes on South Fremantle on Saturday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.